First Days in Arizona (Exhausting!!!)

Well we have arrived to Arizona and what a couple crazy busy days we have had. The past couple days have been totally jam packed with things that had to be done and most ASAP.

First off we had to figure out where Frank needed to report and get that process taken care of. In addition to getting him reported in we also had to relearn the base as there have been so many changes. Once he was reported in the next thing we had to do was to find a place to live. That was a challenge as the NCOA Academy has many soldiers reporting in and many others currently in classes so the TDY housing was unable to fill our family size needs until the middle of the month.

We finally found a place to live. Knowing we had little time we meet with the leasing office to get the apartment so we would not be sleeping in the truck one more night. We got the apartment and willing took the apartment with water but no electricity. We did this knowing that the apartment would be cooler than sleeping in the truck all night. We left the cat and the trailer at the apartment and headed back to base.

We headed off to the medical clinic to transfer our medical care over. Finally, we were then able to head back to the ACS (Army Community Services) building and grab a Welcome Packet for the base as it was to late to get registered into the medical clinic system.

 With that done were able to finish the final steps in getting Frank reported in. Reporting is a long and annoying process but must be done in a certain order. Finally totally exhausted the first day on Ft Huachuca was coming to an end. Knowing we had no electricity we headed to our new home and put as much stuff away as we could before it was dark and ate a cold dinner. By this point, everyone was exhausted and more than ready for bed.

 Day 2 in Arizona came way to early as Frank had to be on be on base by 5:20. Our bodies were shocked with a cold shower. After dropping Frank off I returned home woke the kids got them all in and out as quickly as possible, returned to base to give Frank his forgotten folders. Once he had all the papers he needed we headed back to the medical clinic to get the kids and I registered in system then we ran to Walmart to get new school supplies for the kids and backpacks. With new school supplies we sorted everything out while eating breakfast on a bench there in front of the store then left to find the schools the kids were assigned. Got the registration packets for me to fill out.

At this point I got a call from our relator letting me know the bank was telling him they had not received most of our stuff for our short sale on the house. We have buyers that are anxious to purchase the house. At this point I searched my way back to ACS to find out if they could help me scan and fax my documents. They were unable to help me so I was instructed to head over to the education center.

 Almost as soon as I started scanning the power started fluctuating, then it failed. The scanner died and the computers did as well. Eventually the power returned. However, what we thought was a power outage due to a lightning strike, turned out to be from an electrical fire on base.

 After fighting for over an hour and NOT succeeding, frustrated we met frustrated we met with Frank for lunch, vehicle inspection, to make sure all papers were in order and signed. After lunch the kids and I headed over to the UPS store where they too were experiencing severe technical difficulties. In the end, I made a copy of the needed documents, express sent them overnight to the relator so he could scan and fax and email the documents in for us.

With that finally finished we headed back to ACS again this time to the lending closet to borrow some much needed items. As we were starting to drive the lightning struck and thunder clapped so loud it scared everyone in the car. I jumped so hard.

By this point the kids patience and tolerance for running around, errands, delays, technical issues, and frustration were starting to push them over the edge. However, they did very well regardless and they were so GLAD when we started to head home and got most of the way home and Frank called letting me know he was done for the day laughing at his timing, we turned around, grabbed him, headed home. At that point he discovered the power was still off.

The kids and Frank continued putting stuff away as I rested and started on the 6 school registration packets. After a quick call we discovered the power was actually on but a switch was not flipped. YES!!!! we had power.

Finally, a nice hot dinner, and off to bed. Once again we crawled into bed totally exhausted!